Summer Street in DuBoistown is known as the legendary Candy Cane Lane. The annual holiday destination welcomes thousands with colorful lights and mesmerizing displays creating a magical Christmas scene that brings goodwill to all. And thanks to one Summer Street resident, the giving season continues all year long.

Craig Kropp of Duboistown grew up on Summer Street, where his family began the annual Candy Cane Lane tradition.

“His family were the original people that started Candy Cane Lane; he was born into it. It started right after he was born,” said neighbor Bette McCormick, a Summer Street resident.

Each year, Kropp gathers donations, hands out flyers, decorates a handful of houses himself and much more so Candy Cane Lane can come to life, but his generosity doesn’t stop there.

Kropp is said to be the embodiment of what it means to be a good neighbor.

“He is the greatest neighbor to have. If there’s any problem at all, you can call him. He takes pride in our street: Cutting grass, killing weeds, shoveling snow, snow blowing. He takes care of the street,” says Bette.

Bette and her husband, John, have lived on Summer Street for nearly 20 years. Like many others, the McCormicks have witnessed Kropp’s persistently generous spirit throughout the decades.

“For me personally, my husband has had major surgeries. I don’t worry about things getting done. Who’s going to shovel snow? I have a neighbor who’s like a brother who you can always depend on,” says Bette. “Spring, summer, winter, fall — Summer Street is a well-oiled machine because of him. Our street always looks finely manicured. The one day that we had snow and ice, I looked down the street and no one’s house was done yet. I got worried. I texted him and said, ‘Are you okay?’ He said, ‘Yeah, I’m at church, there was a water break at the church.’ The next day he was trying to get the ice off. When you can’t find Craig, he’s probably helping someone.”

“It’s really remarkable how involved he is. He wants to help in any way, shape or form and he does,” said Ricky Tedesco, another Summer Street resident. Tedesco bought his first home on Summer Street almost 9 years ago. “There’s a lot of stress and anxiety being a new homeowner and maintaining things. When it comes to having someone like him on the street, a lot of that goes away. There is someone there to help. He wants to do it without anything in return,” says Tedesco. He considers Kropp a neighbor, friend, and someone to rely on.

“If I had one lifeline, a phone call to make, and the person has to answer, the person I’m calling is Craig. Craig will always answer his phone. You don’t find people like him. You don’t find neighbors like him,” says the grateful man.

Kropp’s influence on his neighbors and friends is an example of the impact of genuine kindness.

Bette says, “There are still people in the world you can count on, and he’s definitely one of them.”